Light distribution plenum for an illuminated control assembly and method

Abstract

A light distribution plenum includes a shell having an interior surface substantially defining a cavity. A light source receptor is configured to receive light from a light source into the cavity in use. A first optical avenue is associated with the shell and is configured to direct a portion of the light to a first control device. A second optical avenue is associated with the shell, is spaced from the first optical avenue, and is configured to direct a portion of the light to a second control device. At least one selective optic is at least partially within the light distribution plenum and is configured to interact with at least some portion of the light. An illuminated control assembly including a light distribution plenum, a motor vehicle including an illuminated control assembly, and a method of illuminating first and second control devices are also provided.

1. An illuminated control assembly comprising:
 a control panel; 
 a first control device supported by the control panel and including a first portion accessible to an operator, the first portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the first control device; 
 a second control device supported by the control panel and including a second portion accessible to an operator, the second portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the second control device; and 
 a light distribution plenum supported by the control panel adjacent to each of the first control device and the second control device, wherein the light distribution plenum is entirely fixed in place relative to the control panel and is always separate from each of the first control device and the second control device, the light distribution plenum comprising:
 an interior surface substantially defining a cavity; 
 a light source configured to supply light into the cavity; 
 a first optical avenue configured to facilitate passage of a portion of the light from the cavity, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the first portion to illuminate at least part of the first portion; 
 a second optical avenue different from the first optical avenue and configured to facilitate passage of a portion of the light from the cavity, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the second portion to illuminate at least part of the second portion; and 
 at least one selective optic associated with said light distribution plenum and configured to interact with at least a portion of the light. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a lens. 
   
   
     3. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a prism. 
   
   
     4. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a gas. 
   
   
     5. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a filter. 
   
   
     6. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a splitter. 
   
   
     7. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a mirror. 
   
   
     8. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the light source is configured to supply multi-directional light. 
   
   
     9. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a single light bulb. 
   
   
     10. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a single light emitting diode. 
   
   
     11. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic is associated with the first optical avenue. 
   
   
     12. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic is associated with the second optical avenue. 
   
   
     13. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second optical avenues are disposed at different distances from the light source. 
   
   
     14. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second optical avenue is configured to pass at least a portion of the light directly from the light source to the second portion. 
   
   
     15. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one selective optic comprises a plurality of selective optics. 
   
   
     16. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein a plenum insert is disposed at least partially within the cavity. 
   
   
     17. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second optical avenues are disposed at different heights. 
   
   
     18. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first optical avenue is configured to pass only indirect light from the light source to the first portion. 
   
   
     19. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first control device and the second control device are selected from the group comprising a switch, a gauge, a mechanical actuator, an indicator light, a lever, a slide switch, a rocker switch, a toggle switch, a key switch, a fluid level indicator, a rotary knob, a valve and an LCD display. 
   
   
     20. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  being configured for placement and use in a location accessible to moisture and debris. 
   
   
     21. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein a plenum insert is disposed at least partially within the cavity. 
   
   
     22. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 21  wherein said plenum insert comprises a selective optic. 
   
   
     23. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic comprises a reflective surface. 
   
   
     24. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 14  wherein at least a portion of the interior surface comprises the reflective surface. 
   
   
     25. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein said selective optic is configured to reflect a portion of the light through the first optical avenue to the first portion. 
   
   
     26. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 25  wherein said selective optic is configured to reflect the entire portion of the light passing to the first portion. 
   
   
     27. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a third optical avenue in said light distribution plenum configured to direct a portion of the light. 
   
   
     28. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 27  wherein said selective optic is associated with the third optical avenue. 
   
   
     29. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first portion and the second portion are disposed on opposite sides of the light distribution plenum. 
   
   
     30. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 29  wherein the first and second optical avenues are oriented in opposite directions. 
   
   
     31. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first control device comprises a first pushbutton and the first portion comprises a first cap configured for selective depression by an operator in actuating the first pushbutton. 
   
   
     32. The illuminated control assembly of  claim 31  wherein the second control device comprises a second pushbutton and the second portion comprises a second cap configured for selective depression by an operator in actuating the second pushbutton. 
   
   
     33. A motorcycle having an illuminated control assembly, the motorcycle comprising:
 a control panel; 
 a first control device supported by the control panel and including a first portion accessible to an operator, the first portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the first control device; 
 a second control device supported by the control panel and including a second portion accessible to an operator, the second portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the second control device; and 
 a light distribution plenum supported by the control panel adjacent to each of the first control device and the second control device, wherein the light distribution plenum is entirely fixed in place relative to the control panel and is always separate from each of the first control device and the second control device, the light distribution plenum comprising:
 an interior surface substantially defining a cavity; 
 a light source configured to supply light into the cavity; 
 a first optical avenue configured to facilitate passage of a portion of the light from the cavity, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the first portion to illuminate at least part of the first portion; 
 a second optical avenue different from the first optical avenue and configured to facilitate passage of a portion of the light from the cavity, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the second portion to illuminate at least part of the second portion; and 
 at least one selective optic associated with said light distribution plenum and configured to interact with at least a portion of the light. 
 
 
   
   
     34. The motorcycle of  claim 33  wherein the first control device comprises a first pushbutton and the first portion comprises a first cap configured for selective depression by an operator in actuating the first pushbutton, and the second control device comprises a second pushbutton and the second portion comprises a second cap configured for selective depression by an operator in actuating the second pushbutton. 
   
   
     35. The motorcycle of  claim 34  wherein at least one of the first control device and the second control device are selected from the group comprising a switch, a gauge, a mechanical actuator, an indicator light, a lever, a slide switch, a rocker switch, a toggle switch, a key switch, a fluid level indicator, a rotary knob, a valve and an LCD display. 
   
   
     36. A method for providing an illuminated control panel having a first control device and a second control device, the method comprising:
 providing a control panel supporting a first control device and a second control device, the first control device including a first portion accessible to an operator, the first portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the first control device, the second control device including a second portion accessible to an operator, the second portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the second control device; 
 attaching a light distribution plenum to the control panel such that the light distribution plenum is adjacent to each of the first control device and the second control device, is always separate from each of the first control device and the second control device, and is entirely fixed in place relative to the control panel, the light distribution plenum having a selective optic, a cavity, a first optical avenue, and a second optical avenue, the cavity being in communication with the first and second optical avenues; and 
 providing a light receptor within the cavity that is configured to receive light from a light source, wherein the light interacts with the selective optic and a portion of the light passes through the first optical avenue, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the first portion to illuminate at least part of the first portion, and a portion of the light passes through the second optical avenue, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the second portion to illuminate at least part of the second portion. 
 
   
   
     37. An all terrain vehicle having an illuminated control assembly, the all terrain vehicle comprising:
 a control panel; 
 a first control device supported by the control panel and including a first portion accessible to an operator, the first portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the first control device; 
 a second control device supported by the control panel and including a second portion accessible to an operator, the second portion configured for receiving contact from an operator in actuating the second control device; and 
 a light distribution plenum supported by the control panel adjacent to each of the first control device and the second control device, wherein the light distribution plenum is entirely fixed in place relative to the control panel and is always separate from each of the first control device and the second control device, the light distribution plenum comprising:
 an interior surface substantially defining a cavity; 
 a light source configured to supply light into the cavity; 
 a first optical avenue configured to facilitate passage of a portion of the light from the cavity, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the first portion to illuminate at least part of the first portion; 
 a second optical avenue different from the first optical avenue and configured to facilitate passage of a portion of the light from the cavity, through the atmosphere external to the control panel, and then onto the second portion to illuminate at least part of the second portion; and 
 at least one selective optic associated with said light distribution plenum and configured to interact with at least a portion of the light. 
 
 
   
   
     38. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 37  wherein the first control device comprises a first pushbutton and the first portion comprises a first cap configured for selective depression by an operator in actuating the first pushbutton, and the second control device comprises a second pushbutton and the second portion comprises a second cap configured for selective depression by an operator in actuating the second pushbutton. 
   
   
     39. The all terrain vehicle of  claim 38  wherein at least one of the first control device and the second control device are selected from the group comprising a switch, a gauge, a mechanical actuator, an indicator light, a lever, a slide switch, a rocker switch, a toggle switch, a key switch, a fluid level indicator, a rotary knob, a valve and an LCD display.